Body protector



May 15, 1928. 1,670,239

s. CLINE BODY PRdTEcToR Filed June 20', 1927 gww'n toz 5 647W? Gum/5;

, drawin Patented May 15, i328.

UNITED s'r'res SAMUEL CLINE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, Assrenon o A. J. REACH PA1\TY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A oonronn'non.

PATENT OFFICE.

coin- BODY PROTECTOR.

Application filed June 20,

My said invention relates to improvements in body protectors such as are used by base ball catchers. I

Such protectors as heretofore constructed have been one-piece or unitary articles, and as they are heavily padded to afford the desired protection from the impact of the ball, they are too stiii to fold and henceare sobullry as to require too much space when packed with the base ball equipment.

The present invention aims to provide a protector which will be free from such-objections and be capable of being readily packed in a much smaller space. v

With these and other objects in view, the invention includes the novel construction hereinafter describedand defined by the appended claim.

What I at present consider the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view ot-the protector with the attaching straps omitted, and i Fig. 2 is a sectional detail.

Referring by reference characters to this the protector is shown as comprisw ing (for example) three sections designated respectively 1, 1 and l", the two former being separable along a vertical medial line, and tile latter being connected to the loweredges of the two former.

Each of these sections is composed of front and back layers of material such as fabric of the requisite strength provided with rows of stitching 2 to form intervening pockets 3' which are studed with padding material inserted through the open outer ends of the pockets, which are closed by the lacing 4. The inner or juxtaposed edges of the sections 1 and 1 are provided with narrow web extensions a and b (in- 1927. Serial no. 199,965.

these edges may be readily attached and-dew tached.

Such means may be of any suitablechar-' acter, but I prefer to use snap tasten'ersof the ball and socket type, as indicated. Prefe rably these are arranged in substantial] alinement wtih the rows of stitching, as

thereby I can use narrower .web extensions I without interfering with the operation-of the snap fasteners, and thus avoid undue] space between the padded portions.

I In a similar manner the lower edges of the sections 1 and 1 are provided with the web extensions a and b Whichcooperate with the web extensions '0 on the lower section l by means of similar fastening means. The ribs of the lower section formed by the stitches and padding in the intervening pockets, run vertically on the lower section instead of horizontally, asin the upper sec 'tions, and the male fastener elements of the lower section are likewise ahned with the rows of stitching as shown.

A protector such as above described may be readily packed in a relatively small space for traveling by merely disconnecting the fastener means and superimposing the separated sections upon each other; and they may beas readlly' connected toruse.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A body protector'ior base ball' catehers comprising a plurality of sections having cushion ribs, said sections having marginal web extensions, and fastener elements for detach'ably connecting said web extensions, said fastener elements being located in line with spaces between the ribs. i In testimony whereof,I affix my signature."

SAMUEL CLINE. 

